Question

A 58-year-old patient has been diagnosed with osteoarthritis (OA) of the hands and feet. The patient tells the nurse, "I am afraid that I will be hopelessly crippled in just a few years!" The best response by the nurse is that

a. progression of OA can be prevented with a regimen of exercise, diet, and drugs.
b. OA is an inflammatory process with periods of exacerbation and remission.
c. joint degeneration with pain and deformity occurs with OA by age 60 to 70.
d. OA is common with aging, but usually it is localized and does not cause deformity.

Answer 1

The nurse should respond that OA is common with aging, but usually it is localized and does not cause deformity. There are strategies to manage OA symptoms and improve quality of life. Hence the correct answer is option D

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should respond to the patient by stating that OA is common with aging, but usually it is localized and does not cause deformity. While osteoarthritis (OA) can cause joint degeneration, pain, and stiffness, it typically affects specific joints such as those in the hands and feet. It does not typically cause widespread deformity or result in being hopelessly crippled. The nurse can reassure the patient that there are strategies to manage OA symptoms and improve quality of life, such as exercise, diet, and medication.

Hence the correct answer is option D